Horseshoe-pad.



No. 650,334. Patented May 22, I900. P. J. MEAD.-

HORSESHOE PAD.

(Application filed Aug."21, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIQE.

PETER J. MEAD, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

HO RSESl-lO'E-PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,334, dated May 22, 1900.

Application filed August 21, 1899.

T aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. MEAD, of Milwaukee,in the county of Milwaukee and State 2 indicates a horses hoof, and the usual frog of Visconsin, have invented a new anduse ful Improvement in Horseshoe-Pads, of which 1 at the rear thereof.

the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which of Fig. 6.

are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in horseshoe-pads.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved form of horseshoe-pad of such construction that all jarring is effectually pre* vented by reason of the fact that the pad presents a yielding surface which will pre vent lameness, the invention also compre hending as a feature of construction a bearing of the pad directly against the frog of the hoof, whereby danger of lameness is reduced to a minimum.

The invention furthermore comprehends as an object the peculiar arrangement, disposition, and construction of the pad,whereby' the hoof, at the rear contracted portion thereof, is adapted to be expanded, and corns, sores, or other affections of the hoof thereby prevented.

A further object contemplated is the provision of an improved construction whereby slipping of the horse on rough or slippery pavements is prevented, especially when the projecting points from the shoe become worn and thereby unserviceable for the purpose of preventing slipping.

WVith the above primary and other incidental objects in view the invention consists of devices and parts or their equivalents, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an inverted view of a shoe attached to a hoof, showing my improvements properly applied. Fig. 2 is aside view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of amodified form of construction. Fig. 5 is an edge view of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a view of a plain thin rubber pad adapted for covering the entire shoe for the purpose of preventing snow or other accumulations from getting into the. hoof. Fig. 7 is an edge view Fig. 8' is a sectional detail View Serial No. 727,868. (No model.)

showing the pad attached by means of a rivet instead of by a screw-bolt.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 9 formation on the under side of the hoof and the usual elongated sharpened prong 11' and at its rear end with downwardly-extending points 12 12, also adapted to prevent slipping. The shoe is secured to the hoof by the usual nails provided for that purpose, but these nails are not driven entirely around the shoe to the rear extremities thereof, but the rear portions of the shoe are left unsecured, as most clearly shown in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 I show a rear pad 13, which extends across at the rear and from one side of the shoe to the other, and on its upper side at opposite ends are cut-out portions, (indicated by the numerals 14 14,) formthe rear ends of the shoe free to'project upwardly and bear on the under side of the frog 10. The rear edge of pad 13 is also cut out at opposite ends, as indicated by the numerals 15 15, in order to accommodate the downwardly-extending prongs 12 12. The front edge of the pad 13 is provided at an intermediate point thereof with a forwardly-projecting tongue 16, which is shaped to conform to and bear against the frog, preferably against substantially one half the length of said frog. The pad 13 is preferably secured by means of screw-bolts 17, which pass through said pad and engage the rear portions of the shoe. If desired, however, the pad may be secured by means of rivets. This means of securing is illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein a rivet (designated by the numeral 18) is shown as passing through the pad and also through the shoe. The pad is preferably formed with a roughened under surface, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, whereby a firmer and more secure footing is given to the animal and danger of slipping thereby lessened.

From the construction described it will be seen that I provide a pad which is applied to the under side of the shoe at the rear thereof and that this pad forms a firm bearing against the frog, and as the rear portions of the shoe to which the pad is applied are, as previously stated, left unsecured to the hoof the said hoof, at its rear contracted portion, is free to expand laterally slightly, owing to the upward pressure of the pad against the frog of the hoof, whereby lameness, corns, sores, or other affections of the hoof are prevented. The pad provides a firm and yielding hearing for the horse on the ground, and shouldthe animal be affectediwith a splint all j ar against the affected bone is prevented. The yielding action afiorded by the pad also prevents slipping, and should the prongs 12 become so worn as to be unserviceable for that purpose the rear portion of the pad is then free to bear directly against the ground, and

' thereby take the place of the prongs to prevent the animal slipping on icy, wet,0r smooth pavements. Another point of advantage of my pad is the fact that when it becomes worn it can be readily removed from the shoe and a new pad substituted therefor.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I show at the front of the shoe a transversely-arranged pad 19, which is also preferably roughened on its under side and is arranged to the rear of the prong 11' and is secured at its ends at opposite sides of the front of the shoe by means of screw-bolts, rivet-s, or the like. \Vhen the front prong 11 becomes so worn down as to be unfit to further act to prevent slipping, this pad will then come in contact with the ground and servejto perform that function.

-In Figs. 4 and 5.0f the drawings I show a modified form of construction, wherein therear pad, corresponding to the pad 13 of Figs.

- 1,2,,and 3, (but indicated in said Figs. 4 and 5 by the numeral 20,) has extending from its front edge a thin covering-sheet 21, which extends over the entire shoe from side to side and to the front extremity thereof. This pad 20 is shown as unprovided with the forwardlyprojecting tongue 16. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The thin covering 21 acts as a guard to prevent snow, mud, or other substances from getting into the hollow of the hoof. Should snow or other substances come in contact with this covering, said covering will be forced upwardly and will then subsequently spring downwardly, and thereby expel or throw the snow or other substances off. This thin covering is preferably formed as an integral part tion wherein the pad consists merely of a thin covering extending entirely over the shoefrom front to rear and across from side to side, the portion 20 of the Figs. 4 and 5 construction being omitted. This thin covering (indicated by the numeral 22) acts not only as an antislipping pad, but also as a guard, the same as the thin covering 21, Figs. 4 and 5, to prevent snow or other accumulations from getting into the hollow of the hoof, said snow or. accumulations being expelled or forced off the cover by the resilient or springy character of said covering.

In the Figs. 4, 5, 6-, and 7 forms of construction the hollow of the hoof above the coverings may be packed with ocher, cotton-batting, or. some similar material. In all the forms of construction the pads and covering are preferably made of rubber. I do not wish to be understood, however, as limiting myself to this particular material, as any other desirable material, such as leather and the like, could be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

While I have only shown the pad of the Figs. 1 (03 form of construction as provided with a roughened under surface, yet it will be understood that, if desired, the under surfaces of the pads of the other forms of con struction may be similarly roughened, or this sired.

WVhat I claim is- 1. In a horseshoe-pad, the combination,"

with a horseshoe, of a pad secured to and arranged against the under sides of the ends of the shoe at the heel of the shoe, but not projecting rearwardly beyond said ends of the shoe, and extending across from side to side of the heel of the shoe, the portion of the pad in the space between the rear ends of the shoe extending upwardly a sufficient distance to bear against the frog of the hoof.

2. In a horseshoe-pad, the combination, with ahorseshoe, of a pad secured to and arranged agaiust the under sides of the ends of the shoe at the heel of the shoe, but not projecting rearwardly beyond the ends of the shoe, and extending across from side to side of the shoe, the top surface of said pad at opposite ends being cut out to form recesses to portion of the pad in the space between the rear ends of the shoe is adapted to extendupwardly a sufficient distance to bear against the frog of the hoof.

3. In a horseshoe-pad, the combination, with a horseshoe provided at its rear ends with downwardly-projecting prongs, of a pad secured to and arranged against the under sides of the ends of the shoe at the heel of the shoe, but not projecting rearwardly beyond said ends of the shoe, and extending across from side to side of the shoe, the por= tion of the pad in the space between the'rear ends of the shoe extending upwardly a sufficient distance to bear against the frog of the hoof, and the side edges of the pad being out out to accommodate the downwardly-extending prongs.

4. The combination, with a horseshoe, of a pad secured to and arranged against the under sides of the ends of the shoe at the of the shoe at the front thereof and extending 1o heel of the shoe, but not projecting rearacross from side to side of the shoe.

wardly beyond said ends of the shoe, and eX- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature tending across from side to side of the heel in presence of two Witnesses.

of the shoe, the portion of the pad in the space between the rear ends of the shoe ex- 1 PETER D tending upwardly a sufficient distance to bear against the frog of the hoof, and a pad arranged against and secured to the under side Witnesses:

A. L. MoRsELL, O. H. KEENEY. 

